An increasingly health-conscious public eager for heart healthy ‘happy fat’ and low calorie meals has made seafood one of the fastest-growing food categories. The United States represents one of the most important seafood markets in the world, both from a consumption and catch perspective.

Many factors are influencing the growth and direction of the seafood market, not the least of which include a push toward sustainability in the production and retailing of fresh seafood and shellfish and an effort by the industry to educate consumers on the safety of seafood products and the ease of cooking and preparation.

U.S. Market for Fish and Seafood, with a Focus on Fresh, a new report from Packaged Facts, provides an in-depth look at the $20 billion U.S. seafood industry with an emphasis on the largest segment, fresh fish and shellfish. The report tracks key trends affecting U.S. seafood supply and demand, and provides a comprehensive analysis of the main driving forces within the U.S. seafood industry, including the import/export supply chain, consumer attitudes and emerging public opinion, competitor analysis, environmental data. Using various sources, we also evaluate the state of the market and offer likely developments and future trends.

U.S. Market for Fish and Seafood, with a Focus on Fresh makes important predictions and recommendations regarding the future of the seafood industry, and pinpoints ways current and prospective market participants can capitalize on current trends and spearhead new ones. No other market research report provides both the comprehensive analysis and extensive data that this study offers across following segments:

Marketing and New Product Trends (e.g., foodservice/retail cross-over and number of product launches by trend/type).

The Consumer (demographics, attitudes and lifestyle trends).

The report includes extensive information from several sources—including many interviews with key industry representatives - as well as dozens of practical, easy-to-read charts, tables and graphs, all of which are thoroughly examined in light of the many dynamic trends at play in this rapidly shifting market.

Read an excerpt from this report below.

Market Insights: A Selection From The Report

One Third of Consumers Never Buy Fresh Seafood

According the 2008 Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Grocery Shopper Trends Survey, only 4% of consumers take advantage of a fresh seafood department (if their supermarket offers one) at least once a week. A plurality (39%) said they shopped for fresh seafood at their primary store once a month. And 32% said they never shop for fresh seafood.

Northeastern and Pacific Urban Dwellers Consume More Fresh Seafood

According to Simmons, fresh seafood eaters tend to be concentrated in the largest urban areas in the northeast and Pacific coast. The Northeast led with 55.10% of respondents saying they consume seafood on a regular basis. The Pacific Coast was close behind, with 54.80%. Respondents in Central U.S. were least likely to consume seafood, at 39.20%. Seafood eaters are also more likely to live in large cities, with 55.60% of respondents in top-25 metro markets saying they eat seafood on a regular basis. Only 44.60% of respondents in cities and towns below the top 100 metro markets said they consume seafood.

Typical Fresh Seafood Consumers are Middle Aged, Affluent, and Married

According to Simmons, middle-aged Americans (age 45-54) eat the most fresh seafood, at 52.2%. Those over 75 years old are the least likely to consume fresh seafood, at 35.40%. (Figure 3-3) Income levels also determine who is likely to eat more fresh seafood. Those with annual incomes over $150,000 are much more likely to consume seafood than those with incomes under $25,000 (61.60% to 41.10%). In fact, fresh seafood consumption rises steadily in tandem with income. (Figure 3-4) Married people are more likely to consume fresh seafood (52.50%) than any other group; widowed people are least likely to consume fresh seafood, at just over 40%.

In the News

Promoting Health and Environmental Benefits of Seafood May
Help Revive Fresh and Frozen Fish Consumption

New York, December 9, 2008 - After several years of solid increases, seafood consumption in the U.S. has stalled, according to a new report from Packaged Facts, The U.S. Market for Seafood. Based on data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Packaged Facts estimates that annual per capita consumption will fall from 16.3 pounds in 2007 to 15.8 pounds in 2009, before rebounding in 2010.

The recession is hurting the fresh and frozen seafood market, in both the foodservice (where most fish is eaten) and retail venues, although the decline in fresh fish purchases may boost sales of value-priced canned fish.

However, marketers and retailers can reverse this trend by emphasizing the health benefits of seafood, as well as demonstrating their commitment to the environment by implementing sustainable practices in the raising, harvesting and selling of fish.

“Fish is a high-protein food that provides a range of health benefits. White-fleshed fish is lower in fat than any other source of animal protein, and oily fish are high in omega-3 fatty acids. Since the human body can’t make significant amounts of these essential nutrients, fish are an important part of the diet,” says Tatjana Meerman, publisher of Packaged Facts.

Another selling point for seafood is sustainability, which refers to the practice of maintaining or increasing fish production in the future without jeopardizing the ecosystems from which it was acquired. The sustainable seafood movement has gained momentum as more people become aware of overfishing and environmentally harmful fishing methods.

The U.S. Market for Seafood, with a Focus on Fresh, provides an in-depth look at the $20 billion U.S. seafood industry. The report tracks key trends affecting U.S. seafood supply and demand, and provides a comprehensive analysis of the driving forces within the industry, including the import/export supply chain, consumer attitudes, competitor analysis, environmental data.

About Packaged Facts - Packaged Facts, a division of Market Research Group, publishes market intelligence on a wide range of consumer industries, including consumer goods and retailing, foods and beverages, demographics, pet, and financial products. Packaged Facts also offers a full range of custom research services.